Voting-machine



(No Model.)

A 0 ABBOTT VOTING MACHINE.

No. 534,239.` Patented Feb. .192, 1895.

I E E ET. 5

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADRAN O. ABBOTT, OF HUDSON, MICHIGAN.

VOTING-MACHINE.

sPncrIcA'rIoN foi-ming part f Letters Patent No. 534,239, dated February 12, 1895.

Application filed November l, 1893. Serial No. 489,714. (No model.)

To all whom it may Concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIAN O. ABBOTT, a `citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hudson, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine, wherein are arranged a series of slides, representing Various offices to be filled or questions to be answered, and containing the names ot' various candidates for the offices or answers to the questions, adapted to be shifted at will to bring any part into registering position, and in combination with mechanism for registering the vote. The slides are provided with a series of sets of registering devices, which are associated with the names of the candidates to be voted for, or questions to be answered, and which can only be actuated when brought into the registering position, and when located in such position, the register on any slide which is thuslocated, can be operated to register one vote, The indicating devices of the registers always announce the aggregate of votes cast for any candidate. When a vote is to be registered the slides are manipulated until all the candidates to be voted for or answers to questions to be given (or blanks for those offices or quest-ions not to be included) are grouped in the registering line, after which the push-rods of the grouped registering devices are depressed. Suitable details of construction are also embodied to make the device more convenient and expeditious in operation,

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved voting machine. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively partial longitudinal and transverse sections of that shown in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

1 represents a frame in which are mounted a number of slides 2 havinga series of pointers 2'L and movable longitudinally between parallel guides 3. These slides are suitably inscribed on their faces with the names of persons to be voted for or answers to questions to be voted on. There is a registering line X-Y in the machine and the slides may be manipulated so that any portion of them maybe brought into said line. The subjectmatter shown on the slides is that appropriate for electing candidates, one slide being engrossed with the names ofthe parties, while on the others are enumerated the di'lerent ofices to be voted for and the candidates for said oflice. If a straight ticket, that is to say, one naming all the regular candidates in a particular party, is to be voted for, then the slides are moved simultaneously until the roll of candidates forthe ofiices is brought into the registering line.

1n order to facilitate moving the slides, 1 provide a bar 5, which has bearing 6 on a rod 7 and carries an arm 8 which is adapted to engage all of the slides and upon which is mounted a handle or knob 9 for moving it.

10 represents a stop on the rod 7 for limiting the movement of the bar 5.

11 represents the registering opening between the guides, opposite which t-he names are brought for registering.

In order, after registering, to return all the slides to normal position, a second bar 17 having bearing 18 upon the rod 7 is provided and this bar 17 has an arm 19 which is adapted to engage all the slides 2 when forced against them by its handle 20. The bar 17 is likewise limited in its movement by the stop 10. The bars 5 and 17 have bearings upon the same rod 7; but they are so formed that they overlap and each freely slides independently of the other. The arms are guided at their free ends by retaining bars 3.

35 represents groups of dials located on the slides 2, for registering units, tens, hundreds, thousands, the., of votes. These groups of dials are geared together in series in such a manner that each one is advanced one step after the one behind it has completed a revolution, and each group is associated with a name of a candidate, and operated through the medium of a push-rod 36, kept normally in elevation by a spring 37 and having pawl 38 and ratchet 39 connection with the group of dials. On their lower ends, the push-rods have hooks 40, which normally abut against the base-plate il of the frame and make it impossible to depress the rod and register a vote, but when the slide carrying any push-rod is shifted to bring the rod above the registering opening 11, then the rod can be depressed IOO and a vote registered. In order to prevent repeating, the hook 40, when projected through the opening ll, engages the edge ofthe plate 4l and retains the push-rod in its depressed position until released by a spur-wheel 42, under the control of the oflicer in charge.

It will be understood that the opening ll extends transversely across the machine and each slide may be manipulated to bring one of its push-rods thereover.

To facilitate registering after the parts of all the slides have been grouped over the registering` opening, a transverse bar 43 is mounted above the opening and is of such construction and so arranged that through it all the push-rods thereunder may be engaged and depressed simultaneously. Each hook has beneath it a releasing spur-wheel 42 and all of these spur-wheels are mounted upon a common shaft 44 under the control of the oflicer so that he may simultaneously release all of the depressed pus`n-rods- The bar 43 has a central handle and is kept normally in elevation by springs 4G under its opposite ends.

The numbers of the registering dials 35 brought to position can be seen at all times through the openings 47 unless it is desired to conceal them.

My guide-frame, slides, and slide shitting devices as combined and arranged are adapted to be used with other indicating machines such as :recording machines as well as with registeringmachines.

The term registering mechanism used in the claims is intended to cover those machines forming a permanent record known as recording devices.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A voting machine comprising a frame having parallel guides, a transverse opening extending across the frame, and a registering line, a series of slides, one slide containing the names of the parties to be selected at will and voted for, and the other slides containing the names of the offices to be filled and the names of the candidates for the offices to be selected at will and voted for; said slides being bodily and independently movablelaterally ofthe trame between the guides, and having a series of points to indicate the alignment of any of the names of the parties and any ofthe names of the candidates across the registering line over the transverse opening, registering mechanism co operating therewith and means for operating the registering mechanism; substantiallyas described.

2. A voting machine comprising a frame having guides and a registeringline, a series of slides, one slide containing the names of the parties, and the other slides 'containing the names of the offices and the names of the candidates for the ofliices,the rod, a bar having a bearing on the red and an arm for advancingthe slides bodily across the registering line over the transverse opening, a second bar having a bearing on the rod and an arm for returning the slides to normal position; the slides being movable bodily, and independently, laterally of the frame to bringthe other names than those of a party into aligument; substantially as described.

3. The combination of the guides, a slide moving laterally between said guides, provided with a series of independent registering devices, arranged longitudinally thereof, each having a puslnrod for operating it iudependently of the other devices and means located over the registering line of the machine for operating the push-rods; substantially as described.

4. The combination of the guides, a slide moving laterally between said guides and provided with a series of independent sets of registering wheels, arranged longitudinally thereof, each sethaving a push-rod for operating it independently of the other sets, and means located over-the registeringline of the machine for operating the push-rod; substantially as described.

5. The combination ci the guides, a slide moving laterally between said guides, having a series of names or answers, and a series ot' independent sets of registering wheels, arranged longitudinally thereof, each set being associated with a name or answer and provided with a pushsrod for operating it independently of the other sets and means located over the registering line of the machine for operating the push-rods; substantially as escribed.

6. The combination of the guides, a slide moving laterally between said guides, pro vided with a series of independent register-1 ing devices, arranged longitudinally thereof, each having a push-rod for operating it independently of the other devices and means for preventing the operation of the push-rods er:- cept at the registering line of the machine; substantially as described.

7. The combination of the guides, a slide moving laterally between said guides and provided with aseries of independent sets of registering wheels, arranged longitudinally thereof, each set having a push-rod for operating it independently of the other sets, and means for preventing the operation of the push-rods except at the registering line ofthe machine; substantially' as described.

8. The combination of the guides, a slide moving laterally bet veen said guides, having a series of names or answers, and a series ot' independent sets of registering wheels, arranged longitudinally thereof, each set being associated with a name or answer and provided with a push-rod for operating it independently of the other sets, and means for preventing the operation of the push-rods except at the registering line of the machine; substantially as described.

9. The combination et' a series ot' slides each having names er answers to be selected at will, and a series of suitable registering IOO devices mounted on and moving with said slides, each of said registering devices being associated with a name or answer and adapted to be operated when it is moved into registering position, and suitable operating mechanism; substantially as described.

10. The combination of a series of slides, each slide having names or answers to be selected at will, and a series of sets of registering wheels, each set of registering wheels being associated with a name or answer and adapted to be operated when it is moved into registering position, and suitable operating mechanism; substantially as described.

11. The combination of a series of independently movable slides, each having a series of sets of registering wheels and adapted to be moved into registering position, and suitable operating mechanism; substantially as described.

12. The combination of a series of independently movable slides, each having a series of sets of registering wheels, and adapted to be moved into registering position, and suitable operating mechanism for each set of registering wheels, means for rendering the operating mechanism inoperative when out of registering position; substantially as described.

13. The combination of a series ot independently movable slides each having a series of sets of registering wheels, and adapted to be moved into registering position, suitable operating mechanism for each set of registering wheels, and means for operating one set of registering wheels of each slide simultaneously; substantially as described.,

14. The combination ot' a series of independently movable slides each slide having a series of independently acting registering mechanisms and names or answers associated with each registering mechanism and each slide adapted to be moved laterally into registering position, and means for operating simultaneously the registering mechanisms Which are in registering position on each of the series of slides, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a series of independently movable slides each slide having a series of independently acting registering mechanisms and names or answers associated with each registering mechanism and each slide adapted to be moved laterally into registering position, means for operating simultaneously the registering mechanisms which are in registering position on each of the series of slides, and means for moving the slides into registering position in unison; substantially as described.

16. The combination oi a series of independently movable slides having a series of sets of registering wheels and adapted to be associated at a registering position, suitable operating mechanism and means for locking the operating mechanism at each operation and means for unlocking the registering mechanism, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a series of independently movable slides having sets of registering wheels and normally out of registering position, and means for moving the slides bodily into registering position; the slides being free so as to be moved singly over the registering position; substantially as described.

18. The combination of a series ot independently movable slides, having registering devices, the arm for moving the slides into indicating position, the arm for returning the slides to place after registering, and suitable operating mechanism, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a series of independently movable slides each containing names or answers to be selected at will and registering devices and adapted to be associated at a registering position, the arm for moving the slides into registering position, the arm for returning the slides to place after registering, and suitable operating mechanism; substantially as described.

20. The combination of a series of independently movable slides, each containing names or answers to be associated with the names and answers of each of the other slides at will, and adapted to be associated at a registering position, the arm for moving the slides into registering position, and suitable registering mechanisms mounted on the slides and co-operating therewith; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. The combination of a series of independently movable slides each containing names or answers, to be selected at will, and adapted to be associated at a registering position, the arm for moving the slides into registering position, the arm for returning the slides into place after registering a vote, and suitable registering mechanisms mounted on the slides and ceo-operating therewith; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

22. The combination of a series of independently movable slides, the arm for moving the slides together and suitable registering mechanisms mounted on the slides and co-operating therewith; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

23. The combination of the frame having guides, the series of slides, movable between the guides, carrying sets of dials having numbers, and geared together, the push-rods associated with each set of dials, the pawl and ratchet' connections between the push-rods and the first dial of each set of dials and means for operating simultaneously the pushrods placed in registering line; substantially as described.

2a. The combination of the frame having guides, the series of slides, movable between the guides, carrying sets of dials having numbers and geared together, the push-rods associated with each set. of dials, the pawl and ratchet connections between the push-rods and rst dial of each set of dials, and the bar for depressing the push-rods when brought IOO iio

IIS

into registering position; substantially is described.

25. The combination of a frame having guides and a base-plate formed with a registering opening, the series of slides movable between the guides, carrying sets of dials having numbers and geared together, the pushrods having hooks, and associated with each set of dials, the pawi and ratchet connections between the push-rods and dials and the shaft to located beneath the registering opening` having' spur-Wheels for disengaging the hooks from the base-piztteg substantially as described.

ADRIAN O. ABBOTT. Witnesses:

FRANK G. WHITBECK, LEWIS C. RICHARDS. 

